Updated, adds Marlene Farrugia's post - Labour MP Franco Mercieca is set to chair the parliamentary environment and development planning committee instead of Marlene Farrugia, who resigned from the post last November after disagreeing with the Government on sections of the new Environment Protection Act.

In her resignation letter, Dr Farrugia had expressed her wish to remain a member of the committee that she had chaired since April 2013.

The composition of the parliament’s environment permanent committee was hotly debated during the debate on the new environment law that includes provisions regulating its set up.

Dr Farrugia and the Opposition had supported a change to the law enabling the latter to nominate the committee’s chairman, claiming that this was promised in the government’s electoral manifesto.

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Ramblers Association and Front Ħarsien ODZ supported her proposal.

Labour was dismissive of the idea.

Leader of the House Louis Grech tabled the motion proposing Dr Mercieca’s appointment yesterday.  He also proposed Anthony Agius Decelis (PL) to chair the social affairs committee, replacing Deborah Schembri who was sworn in as parliamentary secretary after Michael Falzon’s resignation.

Mr Agius Decelis’ post as chairman of the family affairs committee will be taken up by Godfrey Farrugia, currently serving also as government whip. 

Dr Mercieca served as parliamentary secretary for the elderly early in this legislature but resigned after questions were raised when he continued to perform ophthalmic operations.